Pakistan were aided by poor visibility on Day 5 of their first Test match against New Zealand as the first Test between the two sides ended in a stalemate but in an exciting fashion. Chasing 138 for the win in 15 overs, New Zealand were 61-1 in the eighth over of the second innings as the game wrapped up earlier than usual because of bad lighting.
Pakistan resumed after tea at 249-7 with a lead of 75 in the second innings — as Kiwi legspinner Ish Sodhi (6-86) threatened to give his team the victory.
However, the Pakistanis were well-guided by Saud Shakeel, who scored an unbeaten 55, as well as two tailenders in Mohammad Wasim (43) and Mir Hamza (3*). Pakistan were seemingly headed for a draw but skipper Babar Azam had a victory on his mind when he took the bold decision of declaring late in the final session with Pakistan's score reading 311-8.
This left the New Zealanders with a tempting target of 138 runs required for the win, which the visitors hoped to achieve. Tom Latham was unbeaten on 35 and Devon Conway was not out on 18 when the light intervened to potentially save Pakistan from its fifth straight Test defeat at home.
Earlier, opening batters Imam-ul-Haq (96) and Sarfaraz Ahmed (53) helped reduce their massive first-innings deficit of 174 with an aggressive 85-run stand. Both eventually fell to Sodhi after lunch in quick succession. Pakistan went to tea on the fifth and final day at 249-7 in its second innings with a lead of 75 runs. Sodhi had taken 5-66 by then, shifting the fortune back to the visitors, but the resilience of Shakeel saved the hosts.
New Zealand were riding on the performance of their former skipper Kane Williamson, whose double century, coupled with a century from Tom Latham and half-centuries from Devon Conway and then Ish Sodhi helped the defending champions of the World Test Championship (WTC) to a massive first innings score of 612/9 (declared).
